Electric cigarette lighter



July 5, 1949. N. B. WALES ELECTRIC CIGARETTE LIGHTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 17, 1949 W W u %i Z 1 7%5NToR July 5, 1949. N. B. WALESELECTRIC CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed Feb. 1'7, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m. pmmy .D mm m IYI U D m INVENTOR. KF/[d Patented July 5, 1949-ELEGTRIGCIGARETTE,LIGHTER Nathaniel B. WalesyNew York,=N. 'Y.,assignorto Industrial Patent- Corporation, New York,*N. Y.

Application February 17, -1-94-9,;Serial N0. 7.6 987 5 Claims. (or219-42) .This invention relates to cigarette lighters and its explicitobjectisto providemeanslfor storing :the necessary operative energy foran indeterminateperiod in the form of a spring. prior tothe lighter suse.

.To lig t a cigarette-the end of vthe-cigarette ,isilightly pressedagainst .the resistance grid of ;the,.lighter, the storedtenergy inthespring orits {equivalent .is .thereby automatically .released ,bysuitable .trip mechanism. actuated .by. a slight displacementof the.gridelement, and ,the grid is energized-by-the, stored energyoperatingan electric generator. In this manner, the storedenergy isreleased at the preciseinstant when energization of vthegrid is requiredwith the important provision that the cigarette, is .coincidently inphysical contact with thelignition grid for its lighting.

11; has been 'foundby much experimentation that it is difficult andawkward to. actuate a, lever or otherwise forcibly manipulateactuatingmechzanism necessary for operating the electric igeneratorwhileat the same time guidingthe end ,of

.a cigarette onto a relatively small resistance grid.

.Another objectisto utilize thenormal. and relatively great grippingforce of thehand and not ,any ;one finger thereof tocompress the case ofthelighter which is made telescopic across its major .geometricdimension. that the averageperson:caneasily exert a twenty-.five-poundforcein-agrip of the hand. The case -of the lighter istherefore "dimensioned so as to take -.-advantage of this gripping powerof the hand to transfertand to store .up energy-thereby "within (theactuating sprin .in the lighter. By experimentation git has been .foundthat the iresistance'g-rid requires .three watts electricenergizatiomoveran approximate ;period;of two secondsrto readily light acigarette. If the electric generator has an-overall .efliciency of 70%,and

taking into account the lossiinherent in the gear .train between thespring .and the armature of 'theugenerator; and the maximum distancethrough which the case may be compressed by thegripping reason it is-allthe-more evident thatthisenergy must be generated "by successive windingoperations which accumulatively store energy due to a plurality 'ofwinding'actuations and stored prior to the actual lighting of-the'cigarette and furthermore that an assuredgrid'contact be made coin-It is well known 2 cidently with .the limited period of gridenergization.

.T reason why the ma r dimension .of th :case is compressed bya manualgrippingthereof is to increase the available stroke or distance throughwhich the energy. of the grip is absorbed .without increasing theoverall size of the ,case.

.All of these factors must be taken advantage of .toattain a practicallighter and one which the publicwillaccept.

,Another b ct of thisinvention is to devise a hot electric resistancegrid wherein asthe end of the cigarette makes contact therewith, the hotgrid will be certain to touch one or more points of the paper wrapper ofthe cigarette. .Cigarettepaper has a lower ignition point than tobaccoand this important detail facilitates the lighting of the cigarette.

A furtherobject is to recess the resistancegrid in a protective housingwhereby air currents are minimized and wherein the heat insulative plateinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings andspecifically pointed out-intheappended claims,

In .describing theinventionin detail, reference will be had-to theaccompanying drawingswherein like characters ,denote likeorcorresponding parts throughoutthe several .views, and in which:

Figure vl-is an.enlarged endsection in elevation takenon line .l .-l-inFigure 2.

Figure-2 is an enlarged frontalsection taken on line 2-2 in Figure 1with; a portionof thegenlerator ,field laminations broken away to moreclearly show .therelease ortripmechanism conta t n the armature ofthegenerator.

Figure ,3,.is anenlarged view in elevation looking in the direction ofarrows v3.3 in Figure 1 to showin detailthe ratchet-acting pinionengaging the rack element on its up Qr-case-compression stroke.

"Figure A is thesame. as Figure 3 but shows the disengaging position theratchet-acting pinion assumes on the down stroke of the rack element.

Figure is an enlarged view taken on line 55 in Figure 2 to show theinverted conic form of resistance wire in the ignition element so formedto contact the perifery of a cigarette in contact therewith.

Figure 6 is an approximate actual scaled view in perspective of theelectric lighter,

Referring to the drawings, in Figure 1 the exterior case of the lighteris composed of two telescopic case portions, the upper one designated asI and the lower as 2. Advantage is taken to permit a long compressionstroke, as will be explained in detail later, by telescoping caseportions I and 2 along the major dimension of the normal contour of thecase, see Figure 6. This major dimension of the case being such that itcan be encompassed by a gripping of the hand.

Numeral 3 is the shaft for main spring 4, the inner scroll of which issuitably secured thereto by pin 5. Shaft 3 is journaled in bearingsformed in parallel bearing plates 5 and I secured to each other by studsand spacers 8. The outer scroll of main spring 4 is secured by pin 9 togear ID, freely journaled on shaft 3. A rack member I! is suitablysecured to lower case 2. Rack II is normally in engagement with pinionI2, which in turn is in mesh with gear I3 secured to shaft 3; seeFigures 3 and 4. Pinion I2 is journaled in stub shaft I4 which in turnis cradled in arcuate slot I5 in mounting plate I6 therefor, secured tocase I. A spring member I'I secured in slot I5 presses against stubshaft I4 and maintains it in the position in arcuate slot I5 as is seenin Figure 3, so that when the lighter casings I2 are manuallycompressed, the rack II, see arrow 23, engages pinion I2 which in turnmeshes with gear I3 secured to shaft 3 and thereby winds main spring 4.The pawl member I8 overrides the teeth on gear I3 which has been rotatedin the direction of arrow I8. When the stroke in the direction of arrowis completed, a relatively weak compression spring 2| positioned betweenthe inner wall of case 2 and a foot support member 22 secured to case Ihaving been compressed during the telescoping of cases I and 2 nowexerts sufiicient pressure on the manual re lease of cases I and 2 toreturn cases I and 2 to the position as is seen in Figures 1 and 2. Nowas rack member I I starts to move with case portion 2 in the directionas is seen by arrow 23 in Figure 4, the initial meshing of the rack IIwith pinion I2 carries pinion I2, movably journaled in stub shaft I4,along slot I5 by the continued meshing of pinion I2 with the nowstationary gear I3 locked by pawl I8, thus operating as a sun gearthereto, so that spring I! is compressed, see Figure 4, and an one toothof rack I I temporarily passes out of mesh with pinion I2 and therebypermits rack I I to move in the direction of arrow 23 under the urgingof spring 2! in Figure 1. In this manner spring 4 can be progressivelywound by the repeated telescopic action, manually induced, by cases Iand 2.

Returning to Figure 1, the gear Ill meshes with pinion 24 shown integralwith shaft 25 which is journaled in bearing plates 6 and I. Large gear26 secured to shaft 25 in turn meshes with pinion 2'I keyed to shaft 28journaled in bearing plates I and 29. Plate 39 is in spaced relationwith plate I and is secured to case I by suitable stud means 30 andwhich means likewise secure the laminated field member 3| to case I.Armature 32 is. broken 4 away in Figure 1 to show the armature 32secured to shaft 28.

A field Winding 33 is conventionally wound over the horseshoe-shapedfield member 3|. The armature 32 is preferably made of Alnico, apermanent magnetic alloy. Suitable electric connections 35 connect theelectrical output of field winding 33 with the resistance grid wire 36,see the enlarged view in Figure 5. Grid wire 36 is supported by aLarvite cup 31 which preferably has periferial fingers 38 and innershorter bosses 39 to which and around which the grid wire 35 is suitablysecured to form an inverted conic contour, so that when a cigarette 40,see Figure 2,

" is contacted therewith, the contact is first made along the periferyof the cigarette to assure a lighting of the cigarette paper, which isless by. droscopic than the tobacco and more easily ignited and which inturn when lighted, forms a temperature ignition feeder to the tobacco. Asuitable housing 4i protects the grid wire 36. An orifice 42, see Figure6, gives accessibility to the cigarette All to make contact with thegrid wires 36.

One of the important mechanical considerations which becomes an objectof the invention and which dominates the lighters operation is the factthat approximately 4-5 ft. lbs. of energy representing a. considerabletorque at the main springs axis, shaft 3, is stored up by theaccumulative windings of spring 4. In order to trip or release thistorque for generator excitation, for instance by the slight pressurewhich can be exerted by the end of a cigarette bearing against theresistance grid. element 33, it is very necessary to have a sensitivetrip mechanism. Therefore, it is preferable to take advantage of theapproximately 900 to 1 gear train step-up in R. P. M. between the springand the armature 32, which greatly reduces this existing torque. I,therefore, take advantage of this torque reduction factor by positioningthe trip or release mechanism on the armature of the generator. In thismanner I obtain a sensitive acting manual trip release which will bepractical and can be maintained in operative condition for thousands oflightings.

In this manner the Larvite cup 31 is suitably secured to a lever 43which is supported in a fulcrum bearing 44 suitably supported in case I.The lower end of the lever 43 terminates in a brake shoe or itsequivalent 45 bearing against the circumference of the armature 32 whichis shown slightly extended at 45, see Figure 1. A light spring 4'!biases the lever 43 so that the armature 32 will not revolve during orafter winding of main spring 4 unless the shoe 45 is manually relievedof the bias of spring 41 by the pressing of a cigarette end or itsequivalent against the grid wire 36 which is displaced inwardly therebyand is coincidently energized by the rotation of armature 32.

From the descriptive operational subject matter already fully describedin detail, it is evident that stored energy transferred into the spring4 by its manual winding is available at any indeterminate timethereafter by the simple and normal operation of contacting a cigaretteto the grid element 33 suificiently to displace it and release brakeshoe 45, and while the cigarette contacts the grid 36, the stored energyis thereby released and transferred into wattage which energizes thegrid 35 and ignites the cigarette.

To facilitate the lighting of a cigarette by the lighter in thedarkness, the interior surface of housing 4I may be coated with aphosphorescent substance 48 in order to guide a cigarette to the grid 36by its glow or the Larvite cup 31 may be so coated with substanc 48.

What I desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is encompassedin the following claims:

1. An electric cigarette lighter comprising a case, a main springtherein, an electric generator, a gear train connecting said main springwith said generator, an electric resistance grid displaceably mounted insaid case and accessible to the end of a cigarette, electric circuitconnections between said grid and said generator, manually actuatedmeans for repeatedly Winding said main spring in order to store energytherein and means actuated by the displacement of said grid to releasethe stored energy in said spring to rotate said generator and therebyenergize said resistance grid.

2. An electric cigarette lighter comprising a telescopic case, a mainspring therein, an electric generator, a gear train connecting said mainspring with said generator, an electric resistance element displaceablymounted in said case and accessible to the end of a cigarette, electriccircuit connections between said resistance element and said generator,means to accumulatively wind said main spring by the manual compressionsof said telescopic case in order to store up energy therein and meansactuated by the dis- Placement of said resistance element by the end ofa cigarette in contact therewith to release the stored energy in saidmain sprin to rotate said generator and thereby energize said resistanceelement.

3. A cigarette lighter comprising a case, a main spring therein, anelectric generator, a gear train connecting said main spring with saidgenerator, an electric resistance ignition element pivotally mounted insaid case and accessible to the end of a cigarette, electric circuitconnections between said ignition element and said electric generator,manually actuated means for accumulatively winding said main spring inorder to store energy therein and means through the displacement of saidignition element by the instrumentality of a cigarette to release saidstored energy in said main spring to energize said ignition element bythe rotation of said generator.

4. An electric cigarette lighter comprising a case, a spring motor, anelectric generator, an armature for said generator, a gear trainconnecting said spring motor with the armature of said generator, anelectric resistance grid accessible to a cigarette and pivotally mountedin said case, a brake shoe operatively mounted to contact said armatureand means connecting said pivoted resistance grid with said brake shoe,spring means to normally bias said brake shoe against said armature toprevent said armature from rotation, electric circuit connectionsbetween said grid and said generator, manually actuated means forwinding said spring motor in order to store energy therein whereby whensaid grid is moved on its pivot by the pressure of a cigarette incontact therewith, said spring bias is overcome to permit said armatureto revolve by the stored energy in said spring motor to energize saidgrid and ignite said cigarette.

5. An electric cigarette lighter comprisin a case, a spring motor, anelectric generator, a gear train connecting said spring motor with saidgenerator, brake means to prevent the operation of said generator, anelectric resistance grid accessible to a cigarette and piovtally mountedin said case, means connecting said pivoted grid with said brake means,electric circuit connections between said generator and said grid,manually actuated means for winding said spring motor in order to storeenergy therein whereby when said grid is moved on its pivot by thepressure of a cigarette in contact therewith, said brake means isreleased to permit said generator to be operated by the stored energy insaid spring motor to energize said grid and ignite said cigarette.

NATHANIEL B. WALES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,015,298 Cleland Jan. 23, 19121,186,422 Morgan June 6, 1916 1,219,340 Morgan Mar. 13, 1917 1,400,819Higgins Dec. 20, 1921 1,460,002 Uran June 26, 1923 1,512,468 JohnsonOct. 21, 1924 2,085,331 Ramlau June 29, 1937 2,092,845 Holmes Sept. 14,1937 2,117,976 Morris May 17, 1938 2,243,889 Shively June 3, 19412,244,269 Springborn June 3, 1941 2,247,901 Alexander July 1, 19412,299,497 Rosenthal Oct. 20, 1942 2,468,146 Vissing Apr. 26, 1949FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 102,154 Australia Sept, 29, 1937630,748 France Aug. 29, 1927

